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MINUTES/FLOOD RESPONSE COMMITTEE
Friday, May 23, 1997 -

Members present: Glassheim, Hafner, Bakken, Polovitz.

5. Christ Stonecipher stated they beed to involve citizens more, now planning and putting together plan for neighborhood meetings to discus short term and long term solutions and through with those wo are displced, reloaction ideas, within next two weeks and asked for input from committee, and bring in facilitator to rund meetings and have short term public type meetings and to those with long range visioning ideas, can tie in with KCNN, put together and bring to committee, just have concept.

Council Member Polovitz stated when have meetings have enough staff, and have continuity in information to residents in various areas. Bakken stated council briefing staff on long term plan. Hafner stated he received call re. housing moving too slow, need to get information that this is long range plan. Will come back with more detailed plan.

1. Matter of policy for on-site trailers and campers.
A clarification of policy was made. It was moved by Hafner and Bakken for adoption of the following policy: 1) that it is permissible to park travel trailers on any residential lot which is serviced by water, sewer and electricity. Acceptable electrical hook-ups including the temporary GFI drop boxes;
2)that FEMA is requested to install a GFI drop box on any dwelling (regardless of condition) which has a functional water and sewer system; and further that this policy does not refer to mobile homes. Motion carried.

2. Matter of temporary housing.
N/A - Information.

3. Matter of business and industry disaster assistance program.
Moved by Polovitz and Hafner for adoption of the Program as developed by the Grand Forks Growth Fund to provide assistance to Grand Forks businesses that received physical damage as the result of the flood of 1997 and established the following criteria:
Eligibility requirements:
must be located within the city limits of Grand Forks;
must have suffered a physical loss as the result of the flood of 1997;
must have submitted an application to the Small Business Administration under its Disaster Aid Program;
must have no more than 20 employees;
Amount: At the discretion of the Grand Forks Growth Fund, eligible businesses can receive assistance up to $20,000;
Terms: Assistance will be provided in the form of a deferred loan over a three-year period at an interest rate of 8%. However, if the business remains as originally presented for a period of three years, 25% of the principal and all of the accrued interest will be forgiven; and
Security: Loan will be secured b a personal guarantee of the applicant or principal owner(s) if applicant is a partnership, corporation, or limited liability company.
Motion carried.

4. Matter of citizen participation and outreach program.
No action.

5. Matter of buy-out program.


Moved by Polovitz and Bakken to authorize City officials to enter into contract with consulting firm to assist staff in administration on the buyout program. Motion carried.

6. Matter of financial situation.
N/A

7. Matter of getting a second opinion on the whole water issue.
Moved by Glassheim and Bakken that we authorize the city engineer to seek a second opinion upon the Corps of Engineers' report and coordinate outside consultants with the EERC. Motion carried.

8. Matter of dike alignment line.
N/A

9. Matter of renovation and rebuilding of downtown.
Moved by Hafner and Polovitz to adopt resolution. Motion carried.

10. Request to remodel office space - urban development and budget amendment.
Mr. O'Leary presented request for remodeling office space and phone system at the Urban Development Office to accommodate additional HUD consultants. Moved by Hafner and Bakken to approve budget amendment in the amount of $125,000 for remodeling of office space and phone system at the Urban Development Office to accommodate additional HUD consultants. Motion carried.

The meeting was adjourned.

Alice Fontaine
City Clerk